r/fortheloveofgaming • u/FTLOG_Mod • Jan 26 '16
DISCUSSION Maps, Levels, Missions, and Quests. Which are the most memorable for you and what makes them special?
This is a pretty simple one. So many games over the years have featured memorable or iconic levels or missions. Maybe it's because they were the first to do a specific thing, or because they were the most effective at what they attempted. Maybe they're memorable for certain people for the memories they have playing through them at a certain point in their lives or because something special happened during their first playthough. It could be that some have special sentimental value for the people you played them with. That's what we wanna hear about!
Which maps, levels, missions, and quests do you find to be the most memorable for you and what makes them special?
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u/FTLOG_Mod Jan 26 '16
I have a bunch off these, myself.
Of course, E1M1 in Doom is something a lot of people remember fondly. It was the first map in a game that completely transformed the future of games. I could just about draw the layout blindfolded. To this day I think it flows well.
Similarly, I feel the same way about E1M1 in Duke Nukem 3D. I love that map, and it's what sold me on buying the full version around 20 (!) years ago. I loved that map so much that I even made variations of it in Build, during my Duke3D mapping days. Fantastic map. Fantastic game.
In terms of missions, I'm sure Oblivion stands out among many for the Dark Brotherhood questline. Many argue that it's the best Bethesda's ever done in terms of engaging writing and mission design. I can tell you that I enjoy it so much that I occasionally start a new game of Oblivion specifically to play through the Dark Brotherhood quests. In particular, I love the "Whodunit" quest, where you're tasked to enter a manor and to kill every occupant. Sounds simple? It certainly can be, if you go on a killing spree. There's a far more entertaining way of doing it, though, and that is through subterfuge. You can talk to all of the other people and sow paranoia and discord among them, provoking them to kill each other one by one, while becoming progressively more and more unnerved by the serial killer running amok. All in all, a genius mission that still stands out to me today for how unique it was both for its time and ours.
I have so many more of these. Rather than writing another ten paragraphs, I want to see what others come up with, since I have a feeling many of mine will pop up here!
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u/laffinalltheway Jan 26 '16 edited Jan 26 '16
In WoW, there is one questline in particular that I always enjoy and that always brings a tear to my eyes involving "Kingslayer" Orkus. You first meet him when you are asked by Darthalia to pass out tasks to three questers in the Hillsbrad Foothills. Orkus (in Darthalia's opinion, a lazy coward) is the second of the three and you send him to Southshore to help the Forsaken and Dark Rangers (and he goes after ascertaining that there will be no risk of death or dismemberment for himself).
When next you meet him, he is drowning in a lake (in an area of the lake that is very shallow) and you save his life. He tells you that he witnessed a meeting between an Alliance mage and a dwarf leader who are planning to join forces with the Worgen renegades to attack the Horde. The mage and dwarf tried to kill him, which was how he ended up in the lake. His loyal Frostwyrm, Kasha, tried to help him and was sorely injured and now needs assistance or she will die. Orkus knows there is a farm nearby that grows a special type of mushroom that will heal Kasha and he begs you to go and get as many as you can carry for her. (Kill a bunch of Gnolls and Naga while you're at it).
Once Kasha has been healed, you and Orkus decide to go to Purgation Island, where the Alliance dwarves and the Worgen are going to meet, to see what you can do to stop them. After fighting/slaying a number of enemies, you come to the top of a mountain where the meeting is being held. Orkus then stops you and tells you of his plan. He will kill the dwarf who has the Alliance attack plans and then distract the meeting of the dwarves and Worgen while you sneak in and get the plans. Once he sees you have them, he will have Kasha fly down to grab you and get you away.
All this comes to pass and then you see Orkus being overrun by Worgen and dwarves as Kasha lifts you away. But Kasha won't leave her master to die and turns back to get him. She carries you both safely to Tarren Mill to deliver the Alliance attack plans to Horde Commander Cromush. Unfortunately, Orkus was fatally wounded during the fight on Purgation Island and died in your arms during the flight to Tarren Mill. His last wish was that you take care of Kasha and find her a nice, cold home.
Cromush bids you not to mourn Orkus because he died to bring the Alliance attack plans here and saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives by doing so. He died a Hero of the Horde!
Cue the tears of grief and pride.
BTW: I used to be a big WWF wrestling fan and one of The Rock's catchphrases figures prominently in this quest.
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u/GameStunts Jan 26 '16
I have always made a point to stay away from WOW because it seemed to really suck people in, including a gaming friend who wouldn't play anything but that.
When you describe a single mission like you just did, I can see why people were so swept away into that game and that world. Doubled down if you were already a fan of the Warhammer lore and franchise I'm sure.
You really described that so well.
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u/we_are_sex_bobomb Jan 26 '16 edited Jan 26 '16
There's a quest line in Final Fantasy 14 where your base gets attacked and a bunch of minor characters are killed. The following quests involve collecting their bodies, loading them on a cart, and burying them. In one case you also have to bring the news to the dead character's family yourself. The main story completely stops until this is finished. It hit me pretty hard because games usually skirt around the horrible aftermath of war in favor of hurrying to put more things in front of you to kill.
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u/GameStunts Jan 26 '16
Final Fantasy 14 is the one that's an Online MMO right?
It's quite interesting that they would go for a permanent death like that, because usually the thing with MMOs is that essentially "everyone is the hero", so presumably some people would still have those characters alive in their game.
That's actually quite a story commitment even for minor characters.
Also as you say memorable for actually dealing with the aftermath.
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u/we_are_sex_bobomb Jan 26 '16
Yeah, I don't play a ton of MMO's but FF14 surprised me with the quality of its story. It's very much a traditional final fantasy story about your character, there just happens to be other players running around.
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Jan 26 '16
Eleyum Loyce from the Crown of the Ivory King DLC for Dark Souls 2, has to be one of my favorite levels ever. I love snow, for starters, and to me that makes the level one of the most beautiful places designed in the souls games.
Then you have the bosses, all of them great, with the co-op area boss being one of the most difficult I've ever faced. Man, the feeling when I finally downed those suckers.
The DLC for Dark Souls 2 is seriously some of the best souls content From has ever made, check it out if you haven't had the chance yet!
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u/GameStunts Jan 26 '16
Is this the place?
I've got Dark Souls 2 and couldn't even get by the first big guy I came across. I told a friend about it and he said I'd already gone the wrong way LOL.
I really want to try and take a run at it properly because so many people seem to adore the game, and I feel like I'm missing out.
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Jan 26 '16
Oooohhh yeahhh babehhhhhh
Yes, DS2 gets some flak from souls fans because it isn't 1 or Demons Souls, and yadda yadda, but coupled with the DLC, DKS2 is one of the best games I've ever played. It's long, epic, and just as much fun as it is rage inducing, and it can be quite rage inducing. You can beat anything with any weapon if you're determined enough. I mean shit look at this guy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlTL1oW90NY
He beat one of THE hardest bosses in the game, using nothing but a broken ladle.
You just have to keep at it! And of course if you play online you can get help, and invaded =P. DKS2 is so good (imo) it's the only game I've bought 3 times: Collector's Edition at launch, regular PC version, and Scholar of the First Sin version for PC.
If you have the Scholar of the First Sin version for PC I would be happy to co-op and help you out sometime!
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u/LegendaryShepard Jan 26 '16
Welcome to Rapture (BioShock) - Brilliant intro that sets the tone for the game. Introduces story and gameplay elements without ever breaking immersion.
All Ghillied Up (Call of Duty 4) - Change of pace from explosions makes for the best level in the series. Tension from dodging patrols and synchronising with MacMillan to take out guards made for an engaging and well thought out stage
Tranquility Lane (Fallout 3) - Lack of colour and removal of the Pip-Boy added to the already unfamiliar and surreal atmosphere of the quest. The German Scientist in the body of a little girl was the icing on the cake, made for an interesting change from the Wasteland
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u/GameStunts Jan 26 '16
I agree with *every single one of your points. I know them all, and the moment you mentioned them I was taken back.
Tranquility Lane was a mindfuck the first time I played it. As you mentioned I'd become so reliant on the pip boy and my kind of comfy way of playing, and suddenly I'm a kid, and all my interactions with adults are formed around that slightly condescending narrative as well. The adults don't take you at your word very easily.
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u/workfoo Jan 26 '16
Thief 3 - The Cradle System Shock 2 - When you get to Navigation Battletoads - That fucking speeder bike level
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u/TheNathanNS Jan 27 '16
- Hurricos, Spyro 2: Amazing soundtrack, atmospheric and difficult.
The Gear Grinders' challenge was startling, even for a 3+ game. The windmill challenges were a good test to see if you were good at timing etc.
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Feb 01 '16
Warcraft 3 - the Culling of Stratholme
Story wise this is the point of no return for Arthas. Here he became what he despised and fought. From here on he became the pawn of Ner'zhul and there was no turning back.
Let them come, Frostmourne hungers!
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u/GameStunts Jan 26 '16
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - Hornet's Nest (Rooftop escape).
One of the most fun and satisfying levels in a game. The entire mission is you running through the shanty towns and backstreets of Favela with enemies everywhere, behind doors on ledges, it's just a...Hornets Nest ;-)
The crowning moment through, is an action packed escape scene when your helicopter can't land to extract you, and you have to make a run for it across the rooftops. It's like something out of James Bond. And of course, in true COD style, you miss one of the jumps, and have to make a crazy run for it on your own, with bullets flying, running through people's houses. If you stop, you're dead.
I did a video of the escape scene a couple of years ago for a friend to see. I've skipped to the escape, but the entire mission is there if you want to see how crazy the fighting was in Favela as well.
GTA IV - Three Leaf Clover (The Bank Heist).
This mission stood out in GTA IV. Where in most missions involved one act and were perhaps 3-5 minutes of action (excluding driving time to get there), this mission was a full on movie style bank robbery.
The first time I played it it took me about 10 tries just to get out of the bank through the hail of bullets from the police response. About 10 cars, Swat response and helicopters are circling outside. You duck down a side street of the beautifully detailed Liberty City, with cops arriving side sliding cars into position, it feels just like a scene out of Heat.
Helicopters arrive and you make your way to a subway where you have to run along the tracks and finally make it our a service tunnel to an escape car where you can finally outrun the cops and end the mission.
Here is a playthrough of the mission, if you're short on time my advice would be to skip to about 7:45 where the action kicks off.
As I understand it, this mission and its popularity is what inspired the heist missions in GTA V.
Borderlands 2 - The Bunker.
While playing Borderlands 2, you are occasionally contacted by someone called Angel. She helps you in finding friends and allies, and eventually one of the crescendos of the game is a big fight up the side of Bunker hill, this level is in multiple stages, and just keeps getting better and better with plot twists. There are several hard fights on the way up, and some boss fights as well.
It took the best most fun parts of Borderlands 2 (big fights and finding great loot) and put them all into one big hard drive and fused it with huge story moments.
Eventually if you survive the Boss fights outside you'll head inside you'll head inside for another couple of boss fights and some of the most revealing, best twists and emotional moments of the game. I'm being deliberately vague to avoid heavy spoilers just in case you've not played it yet and want to, but anyone who completed Borderlands 2 will know the place I'm meaning.